Piano-violin.



H. SGHLEMMER.

PIANO-VIOLIN.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 5, 1912.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH CO-JVASHANOTON. D. c.

Patented Jan. 27, 1914.

H. SGHLEMMER.

PIANO-VIOLIN.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 5, 1912 1,085,1 67, 4 Patented Jan. 27, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2,

a 14 1 09 27 4 Q9 14 83 27 10 I i l 5 I! 18 I I F a 8 0 UNITED STATES PKPENT OFFICE.

HENRY SCI-ILEMMER, OF EFFINGHAM, ILLINOIS.

PIANO-VIOLIN.

0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HENRY SGHLEMMER, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of Eifingham, in the county of Eflingham and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Piano- Violins, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to means for regulating playing engagement in stringed instruments, especially to instruments of that class in which vibration of a string is caused by a bow (such as violins, violas, violoncellos, etc.), and the player controls each instrument by a manual having the black and white key-board, as in the piano violin disclosed in my United States Letters-Patent, No. 953,103, granted March 29, 1910.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide each instrument with two strings, and another is to provide novel means for regulating each instrument in such manner that either or both of the strings of the instrument can be brought into playing engagement with the bow.

One great advantage which results from equipping each instrument with two strings resides in the fact that the piano violin can be built with one-half the number of instruments that is ordinarily used and at the same time have the same range, the size of the casing and the cost of manufacturing the piano violin thereby being greatly reduced.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, in which like numbers of reference denote like parts wherever they occur, Figure 1 is a rear elevation of a violin and its regulator; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of same; Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 33, Fig. 2; Fig. 4: is a similar sectional view showing an alternate form of bow; Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of one of the connecting members; Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing part of the violin neck with the stops or bridges mounted thereon; Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the adjustable spring support; and Fig. 8 is a perspective View of the roller.

In the drawings, only one of the various instruments of a piano violin is illustrated with its neck down, but it should be understood that same may be neck up, or, if desired, same may occupy either a horizontal or an inclined position, or any desired position. The instrument employed is an ordinary stock violin, etc., such as can be ob- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 5. 1912.

Patented Jan. 27,1914.

Serial No. 701,943.

tained from any dealer in musical instruments, same being somewhat modified, of course, to be suitable for the purpose for which same is used, some standard parts being removed, the construction of others changed, and some new parts supplied.

A rod 1 secured to one end of the body 2 of the instrument seats in a depression 3 in a plate 4:, which is fastened to the end member 5 of the frame 6 by means of screws 7, or the like, and a rod 8 secured to the other end of the body 2 seats in a depression 9 in a plate 10, which is secured to the other end member 11 of said frame by screws 12 or other suitable means, said rods 1 and 8 being preferably disposed in alinement with each other, so as to form an axis about which the instrument is rocked in the manner hereinafter described. The frame (5 comprises a pair of side members 18 and the end members and 11, the end member 5 being rigidly secured at the ends thereof to the side members 13 and being connected therewith by the braces 1st, and the end member 11 being pivotally attached at one end thereof to one of the side members 18 by a screw 15, or the like, and containing an opening 16 adjacent the other end thereof, in order to allow a screwthreaded rod 17, which is secured to the other side member 13 to extend there through. By means of a nut 18, which fits on the screw-threaded rod 17, the free end of member 11 can be moved toward and away from the side member 18 to which said rod is attached, so as either to diminish the distance between the plates 4 and 10, when it is desired to clamp the instrument in place within the frame 6, or to increase the distance between said plates when it is desired to remove the instrument from said frame, a lock-nut 19 being provided to hold the nut 18 in place.

A rod 20 secured to member 11 seat-s in a depression 21 in a plate 22, which is secured to a suitable support 23 within the casing (not shown) by screws 24, or the like, and a rid 25 secured to the member 5 seats in a depression 26 in the head of a bolt 27, said bolt being adapted to fit in a screw-threaded opening 28 in a plate 29, which is secured to a suitable support 30 by screws 31, or the like, and being held firmly in place by means of a lock-nut 32. The rods 20 and 25 are located near one of the side members 13 and are arranged in alinement with each other, so as to form an axis about which the frame 6 is rocked in the manner hereinafter described.

A spring 33, one end of which seats in a depression preferably in member 5 and the other end of which is attached to member 34 by means of a screw 35, or the like, holds the frame 6 in such position that the latter nor mally holds the instrument out of playing engagement with the bow-wheel 36, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, or the bow-belt 37, as depicted in Fig. 4. The member 34 is preferably L-shaped and is secured to a block 38 by means of a screw 39, or the like, said block being secured to the support 30 by screws 40 or other suitable means. The member 34 contains a slot 41 through which the screw 39 passes, and, when the latter is loosened, said member can be adjusted so as to increase or decrease the pressure of spring 33 against the frame 6.

The instrument is strung with two strings 42, which are tuned to different tones. A pair of members 43 secured to the sides of the neck of the instrument by screws 44 or other suitable means extends beyond the end of same and supports a member 45, which is secured thereto by any suitable means. A roller 46, which is preferably located between the members 43, is revolubly mounted on a pin 47 supported by said members, and has a pair of annular grooves 48 in which the strings 42 rest, respectively. Each string 42 is fastened at one end thereof to the tailpiece 49, and passes over the bridge 50 and then through part of a groove 48 in the roller 46, the other end of said string being fastened to a screw 51, which fits snugly in a screw-threaded opening in member 45. By means of the screws 51, the tension of the springs 42 can be regulated to tune the strings to the desired tones. In order to stop the strings 42 at the proper points intermediate the roller 46 and the bridge 50, a stop 52 may be provided for each string, which stops are secured at the proper points on the finger-board and are notched at 53 to allow the strings 42, respectively, to rest therein.

lVhile the means of stopping as just described is preferable, yet it should be understood that any f the stopping means disclosed in my above-mentioned United States Letters-Patent, or any other suitable stopping means may be substituted in lieu thereof.

The instrument is played by causing same to move to a point where either or both of the strings 42 engage a rotating wheel 36 or a traveling belt 37, either of which latter serves the purpose of a bow. As in my above-mentioned patent, the instrument is moved the distance necessary to bring either or both of the strings 42 into and out of playing engagement with its bow-wheel. or bow-belt by the act of the operator in depressing the particular manual-key or keys of the key-board (not shown) by which said instrument is controlled, the movement of said manual-keys being communicated to the respective instruments by appropriate action.

The instrument is operatively connected with two manual-keys of the keyboard (not shown) by the rods 54, respectively. Each rod 54 has a screw-threaded end which on tends through an opening in one end of a lever 56 and carries a nut 57, which bears against said lever. Each lever 56 is pivoted at 58 to a suitable support 59 and contains an opening 60 to allow a screw-thrciuled rod 61 secured to one end of member 62 to extend therethrough, said rod 61 carrying a nut 63, which bears against said lever. The other end of member 62 contains a socket or depression 64 to receive an end of a rod 65 borne by a block 66, which is secured to one side of the neck of the instrument by a screw or screws 67, or other suitable means, said socket or depression 64 being of such size that said rod will have sul'licicnt play therein without binding. It should be understood that there are two such rods 65, one being secured to one side of the instruu'ient neck and the other to the opposite side of said neck.

When it is desired to play one of the strings 42, the proper manual-key that controls the playing of such string is depressed, whereupon said key ope ates through its rod 54, lever 56, rod 61, members 62, red 65, and block 66 to rotate the instrument about the axis of the rods 1 and 8 sulliciently to pre sent such string to the bow-wheel or bowbelt and simultaneously to rock the frame 6 on the axis of the rods 20 and 25, so as to move the instrument toward the bow-wheel or bow-belt, thereby bringing said string into engagement with the bow-wheel or bow-belt and causing the note to sound as long as the manual-key is depressed. The release of pressure upon the manual-key allows the spring 33 to return the instrument and frame 6 and parts connected therewith to their normal positions. In like manner, when the other manual-key that is operatively connected with the instrument is depressed, same operates through its rod 54, lever 56, rod 61, member 62, red 65, and block 66 to rotate the instrument in the opposite direction about the axis of the rods 1 and 8 and simultaneously to rock the frame 6 as hereinabove described, so as to move the other string 42 into engagement with the bow-wheel or bow-belt. If, however, it is desired to play both strings 42 at the same time, both manual-keys that control the movement of the instrument are depressed, whereby said keys operate through the rods 54, levers 56, rods 61, members 62, rods (35, and blocks 66 to rock the frame 6 on the axis of the rods 20 and 25 without rotating the instrument, so as to move both strings 42 into engagement with the bow-wheel or bow belt.

For the purpose of illustration, the instrument depicted in the drawings is of the class in which the note to be played is produced by moving the instrument having two strings tuned to produce different tones to a point where either or both of the strings may engage a rotating wheel or a traveling belt that serves the purpose of a bow, but it should be understood that not only are violins, violas, cellos, and double basses of the said class within the scope of this invention and of the claims, but banjos, mandolins, guitars, and the like, are as well; for, to play these last-named instruments, in which the vibration of the strings is caused by picking or plucking instead of by bowing, the mechanism remains unchanged save for the fact that the wheel 36 or the belt 37 may be equipped with projecting fingers or pins, instead of horse-hair, or the like.

I claim:

1. In combination with a movable frame, a violin supported thereby so as to be mov able relative to the frame and having two strings, bowing means, and a pair of devices capable of simultaneous movement each operatively connected with the violin neck for rocking the violin to independently present either of its two strings to the bowing means, said devices When simultaneously actuated effecting movement of the frame to present both strings simultaneously to the bowing means.

2. The combination of a pivoted frame, a violin revolubly and removably supported thereby and having two strings, bowing means, a pair of levers, and means operative by said levers for rocking said violin and said frame to move either string into engagement with said bowing means.

3. The combination of a pivoted frame, a violin revolubly and removably supported thereby and having two strings, bowing means, a pair of rods secured to the sides of the violin neck, a pair of levers, and a pair of members operative by said levers and each having a socket in an end thereof to receive one of said rods.

L The combination of a pivoted frame, a violin revolubly and removably supported thereby and having two strings, bowing means, a pair of rods secured to the sides of the violin neck, a pair of levers, and a pair of members operative by said levers and each having a socket in an end thereof to receive one of said rods, said members being adjustable.

5. The combination of a pivoted frame, a violin removably and revolubly supported thereby and having two strings, bowing means, and a pair of levers operatively connected with opposite sides of the violin neck for moving either or both strings into ongagement with said bowing means.

6. The combination of a pivoted frame, a violin removably and revolubly supported thereby and having two strings, bowing means, a pair of levers operatively connected with opposite sides of the violin neck for moving either or both strings into engagement with said bowing means, and resilient means for moving the instrument out of playing engagement with said bowing means.

7. The combination of a pivoted frame, a violin removably and revolubly supported thereby and having two strings, bowing means, a pair of levers operatively connected with opposite sides of the violin neck for moving either or both strings into engagement with said bowing means, and resilient means for moving the instrument out of playing engagement with said bowing means, said resilient means being adjustable.

8. The combination of a rectangular frame pivoted on an axis adjacent one side thereof, a violin revolubly attached to said frame on an axis in substantially the middle of said frame, said violin having two strings, bowing means, and a pair of members operative to move either or both of the strings into engagement with said bowing means.

9. The combination of a pivoted rectangular frame, a violin pivoted to the end members of said frame and having two strings, one of the end members of said frame being adjustable, bowing means, and means for moving either or both strings into engagement with said bowing means.

10. The combination of a pivoted rectangular frame, a violin pivoted to the end members of said frame and having two strings, one of the end members of said frame being adjustable, bowing means, means for moving either or both strings into engagement with said bowing means, and locking means for said adjustable member.

11. In combination with a pivoted support, a musical instrument connected to the support so as to be movable relative to the support and having two strings, means for vibrating the strings, and means connected to the instrument whereby said instrument may be partially rotated in the support to present one string to the vibrating means and whereby the support may be moved by the same means toward the vibrating means to present both strings to the vibrating means.

12. In combination with a pivoted springpressed support, a musical instrument connected to the support so as to be movable relative to the support and having two strings, means for vibrating the strings, and means whereby either string may be presented to the vibrating means to the exclusion of the other string, or whereby both strings may be simultaneously presented to the vibrating means by movement of the support.

13. In combination With a pivoted sup port, a musical instrument connected to the support so as to be capable of movement relative to the support and having two strings, means .t'or vibrating the strings, and devices independent of each other and capable of simultaneous movement connected to the instrument for actuating the instrument to present either string to the vibrating means and for also moving the support so as to engage both strings simultaneousl With the vibrating means When the devices are actuated simultaneously.

14. In combination With a support, a musical instrument movably connected to the support and having two strings, means for vibrating the strings, a device connected to the neck of the instrument, and independent means secured to opposite sides of said device for effecting independent engage ment of the strings with the vibrating means.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

HENRY SCHLEMMER.

Witnesses WM. B. WRIGHT, J12, CLARA C. \VORMAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patentm Washington, D. C.' 

